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12-09-2008, 11:26 PM
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#1 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Woodlands TX
Posts: 23
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Frame Sag
Hi, new to the site, was hoping someone could help with my problem. 72 blazer 99% resored, and didnt notice when i had the frame off it was weak. anyway it sags in the middle like alot of the older trucks where the bed rubs the cab, I have had to spacer up the inner body mounts to close the doors etc. I had a buddy with same truck, same problem, and he had steel plate welded under the body center to add rigidity. I know I could weld the frame boxed, but its all been powdercoated.
heres a few pics along the way |
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12-10-2008, 12:09 AM
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#2 |
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2007
Location: San Antonio
Posts: 993
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Re: Frame Sag
Dude, nice rig and welcome from San Antonio. These problems are to be expected with a 36 year old truck. Are you planning to put a top on it? I don't think it really matter at this point, but shimming the body mounts is your best option. Don't ruin the powder coating on the frame. Looks awesome the way it is. What are some of the specs on your ride?
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12-10-2008, 01:17 AM
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#3 |
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SKINNY TIRES RULE!
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Bothell, WA
Posts: 11,049
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Re: Frame Sag
Welcome to the board from Seattle. That's a nice looking rig ya built.
I would suspect the issue is more in the body mounts/frame shims than sagging in the frame. Are you're rocker/torsion boxes solid?
__________________
bouncytruck 1972 K5 The Hauler 1994 K1500 Suburban The Daily2010 Kia Soul Wife's Ride2014 Fiat 500L |
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12-10-2008, 07:18 AM
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#4 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Central Vermont
Posts: 8,538
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Re: Frame Sag
Body issue, not frame...common problem with body off resto's.
Great looking ride, welcome to the board |
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12-10-2008, 07:26 AM
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#5 | ||
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Can't wait to retire!!
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Corunna, MI
Posts: 1,575
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Re: Frame Sag
Quote:
Quote:
 X2And  from Michigan...nice rig!
__________________
 2009 4x4 Chevy Crew Cab 6.0 1989 4x4 Siverado (270,000 miles) 1972 4x4 Blazer 2007 Chevy Cutaway 1 ton 1970 Corvette (sons project) RIP - CLR 10/11/09 Last edited by Chevyman63; 12-10-2008 at 07:28 AM. |
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12-10-2008, 08:03 AM
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#6 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Angleton, TX
Posts: 2,219
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Re: Frame Sag
Welcome from the other side of Houston. I too would assume the problem to be with the body and not frame. The truck still looks great!
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12-10-2008, 03:04 PM
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#7 |
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Post Whore
 
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Rose Hill, KS, USA
Posts: 12,683
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Re: Frame Sag
Welcome - sweet K5!
__________________
1970 Blazer with a 400 sbc and 4" lift 1980 Pontiac Trans Am, 455 Oldsmobile 2012 Kawasaki Concours 14 |
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12-10-2008, 03:53 PM
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#8 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Woodlands TX
Posts: 23
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Re: Frame Sag
Thanks for the input, similar to what I thought, anyone have a very clean cure? The inside of the body was shot with rhino liner and the underside was bead blasted and painted, so welding is out. I thought about a cage or roll bar that could be modified for support. Some of the specs, full off frame resto, down to the last grade 8 bolt, every piece of metal other than the body was blasted and powdercoated, both axles completely rebuilt, went with 411 posi front/rear, new hubs drive shafts, gas tank, SS fuel and brake lines, rebuilt tranny and transfer case, went with GM HO330 deluxe, all new dash, inst cluster, tilt column, new interior etc.etc.
would like to fix the frame, go efi and drive it more, it has 1600 miles on the odo since the rebuild 7 years ago I kind of have an itch to start messing with it again Thanks for all compliments and welcomes here is a pic near completion BTW I am the original owner |
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12-10-2008, 04:10 PM
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#9 |
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Its lookin' like a Blazer!
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Gods Country, KY
Posts: 1,773
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Re: Frame Sag
Welcome to the board. You've got a nice ride. I too don't believe its your frame. Just one of those things when doing a frame off with a blazer. You might have to use a couple extra shims here and there to get it to line up right. No big deal. Theres really not enough distance in between front and rear springs to sag. What are some specs on lift, wheels/tires? Any inside pics? I'm going to rubber line the inside and under side of my tub.
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12-10-2008, 04:11 PM
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#10 | |
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Central Vermont
Posts: 8,538
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Re: Frame Sag
Quote:
It's not the frame. Shim the body correctly and you'll be all set. |
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12-10-2008, 04:40 PM
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#11 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Woodlands TX
Posts: 23
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Re: Frame Sag
i think its a combination of both, i have @1.5 inches of shim in the middle mostly under front of the bed, when i put the truck on the lift the flex goes the opposite way. have tried alot of things, so far only the shims work. what bugs me is the flex, the rear tops of the doors rattle and rub the top of the bed
started with 3-4 inch lift but i have removed a spring or two now its @1.5, they are 33's, it handles well, but i have the nitro shocks which are too stiff, gonna go to the hydro's so if any one is looking for nitros i will sell all 4 cheap |
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12-10-2008, 05:44 PM
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#12 | |
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Central Vermont
Posts: 8,538
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Re: Frame Sag
Quote:
Are your torsion boxes intact? Still betting it's not the frame flexing, it's the mounts letting things move due to the tub being in sub-par condition. |
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12-10-2008, 05:56 PM
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#13 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Woodlands TX
Posts: 23
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Re: Frame Sag
help me out, what are torsion boxes?
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12-10-2008, 06:32 PM
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#14 | |
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Central Vermont
Posts: 8,538
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Re: Frame Sag
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12-10-2008, 06:35 PM
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#15 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Woodlands TX
Posts: 23
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Re: Frame Sag
how do i know i they are bad?
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12-10-2008, 07:26 PM
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#16 | |
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urban fourwheelin
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Seattle
Posts: 1,007
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Re: Frame Sag
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__________________
1972 K5 Blazer with Cummins 4BT, NV4500 swap in the parts gathering stage. |
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12-10-2008, 07:37 PM
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#17 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Woodlands TX
Posts: 23
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Re: Frame Sag
no they look good, and the the sag is really more in the door area
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12-10-2008, 07:41 PM
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#18 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Woodlands TX
Posts: 23
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Re: Frame Sag
put it this way, there is @ a 1.5inch (the amount of spacer) dip in the frame right below the doors, if i put it on the lift or put a jack under the frame, it goes away. the door area is the weak point of the body, as there is no lateral support there
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12-10-2008, 07:44 PM
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#19 | |
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Philadelphia, Pa. 19454
Posts: 9,441
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Re: Frame Sag
Quote:
__________________
Semper Fi...Uncle Sam, you da man All parts offered to help are free, unless otherwise noted Dont try this stuff in my build thread, unless you have 55 years of mechanical OTJ training SAFETY FIRST AS usual, off topic They say your mind goes second, can't remember the first Jim |
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12-10-2008, 07:51 PM
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#20 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Woodlands TX
Posts: 23
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Re: Frame Sag
I see that they run forward past the doors, but they are in good (solid) shape. what is allowing the sag? again I have to use 1-1.5 inches of spacers in the middle mounts to get the doors to close, other wise the body buckles in the middle
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12-10-2008, 08:10 PM
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#21 |
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Philadelphia, Pa. 19454
Posts: 9,441
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Re: Frame Sag
Hinges are in good shape right? Are we talking with the top off it sags...Spacers aren't always a bad thing
__________________
Semper Fi...Uncle Sam, you da man All parts offered to help are free, unless otherwise noted Dont try this stuff in my build thread, unless you have 55 years of mechanical OTJ training SAFETY FIRST AS usual, off topic They say your mind goes second, can't remember the first Jim Last edited by jaros44sr; 12-10-2008 at 08:11 PM. |
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12-10-2008, 08:18 PM
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#22 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Woodlands TX
Posts: 23
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Re: Frame Sag
dont have a top, if it was a little more rigid it would be ok, but the flex causes the doors to rub against the bed, rattles and has chipped the paint, I may end up doing some bracing underneath, if i can ever engineer it. I will probably try and find a roll bar for it first and see if I can connect everything
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12-10-2008, 08:24 PM
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#23 |
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Philadelphia, Pa. 19454
Posts: 9,441
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Re: Frame Sag
Do you have those little chrome rub blocks mounted in the top of the doors, the doors shouldn't rattle
__________________
Semper Fi...Uncle Sam, you da man All parts offered to help are free, unless otherwise noted Dont try this stuff in my build thread, unless you have 55 years of mechanical OTJ training SAFETY FIRST AS usual, off topic They say your mind goes second, can't remember the first Jim |
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12-10-2008, 08:31 PM
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#24 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Woodlands TX
Posts: 23
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Re: Frame Sag
yep, and the latches are adjusted tight, it squeeks and rattles as the frame & body flexes
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12-10-2008, 08:38 PM
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#25 |
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SKINNY TIRES RULE!
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Bothell, WA
Posts: 11,049
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Re: Frame Sag
Did you replace the body mounts when you did the resto? Is there a possibility you got the body mounts in wrong or the body mounts?
As you can tell, most of us don't think it's the frame. These trucks have a tendency to flex in the middle when the body mounts are shot. My 72 rubs on the top of the doors just like you are describing. It didn't happen until pulled the top for the first time. I know I need to replace the body mounts to solve the issue. Since you're the original owner, you'd know if the truck was abuse or wrecked to the extent that the frame is bent. Since you clearly appreciate the truck and spent a lot of time, money and energy restoring it, I'm going to guess it hasn't been abused.
__________________
bouncytruck 1972 K5 The Hauler 1994 K1500 Suburban The Daily2010 Kia Soul Wife's Ride2014 Fiat 500L |
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